Missions

Local Missions

Angel Tree Ministries

When Mom or Dad is in prison, Christmas doesn’t always mean gifts and celebration for the kids in the family. For many years, Chardon United Methodist Church has reached out to children of prisoners, who face the holidays without the presence of a parent.

Since it began in 1982, Angel Tree Christmas has touched a cumulative 6 million children’s lives through the participation of thousands of churches, according to Prison Fellowship Ministries. It is one of three elements in the organization’s Angel Tree program, which also includes camping and mentoring elements.

Prison Fellowship Ministries was founded in 1976 by Chuck Colson. Colson, a former aide to President Richard Nixon, pled guilty to Watergate-related charges and entered Alabama’s Maxwell Prison in 1974, where he served seven months of a one-to-three-year sentence for obstruction of justice.

Holiday Food Donations

During the seasons of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, the United Methodist Church congregation collects food donations for needy families.  A sign-up list of required food donations will be available in the church lobby and on the website for members to see what we need.  Volunteers package the food into family packages, and other volunteers deliver the food to local families in need.  We appreciate all the donations from the community.

Project Hope

For The Homeless

“Responding to the human hurts and hopes of persons in Lake County who are homeless by providing emergency shelter, care and guidance, in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ.”

Having a roof over one’s head can’t always be taken for granted. Project Hope for the Homeless is a temporary emergency shelter serving men, women and families who find themselves without a roof and homeless in Lake County.  (25 Freedom Road, Painesville, OH  44077)

Referrals are made through local social service agencies, churches and police departments. Currently overnight shelter is available November through April from 8 PM – 8 AM.

Geauga Hunger Task Force

The Geauga Hunger Task Force was established in 1977 to serve the emergency food needs of our county. This organization is a coalition of churches and social service agencies. It is completely dependent on the generosity of civic-minded individuals, agencies, and area businesses. The Chardon United Methodist Church has supported this mission for many years, through the food pantry at Pilgrim Christian Church.  There are seven neighborhood-based food pantries that distribute food throughout the county.

Red Cross Bloodmobile

It doesn’t take much to help save a life! Just an hour or so out of your day could mean a lifetime to someone’s child, best friend, grandparent or spouse.

So, what does it take? Donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in general good health. We ask that you bring a valid photo ID and a list of all current medications with you when you come to donate. You many donate blood every 56 days.

Cub Scouts

The church has provided a home for Cub Scout Pack 92 since 1994.  The pack was organized and chartered at that time largely through the efforts of an adult scouter, Brenda Cvanciger.  The pack started with 55 boys and 10 adults.  Stan Zupon was the first Cubmaster.  The pack currently has 60 boys and 10 adults leaders.  Mark Hinesley is the current Cubmaster.  Vern Kempf served as the liaison between the church and the pack (Charter Representative) until 2002.  Lisa Zupon now fills that role.

It is noted that Board minutes from the mid-fifties to mid-sixties indicate that a Boy Scout troop was using the second floor of the parsonage barn at that time.  There is also mention of Cub Scouts.

National Mission

Appalachia Service Project – Transforming Life in Central Appalachia

ASP provides vital housing services to low-income families living in Central Appalachia as well as transformational life experiences to those we serve, volunteers offering their service, congregations involved with ASP, and entire communities. Using the links on the left, find out more about ASP’s purpose, service area, values, history and stories of our work.

What is ASP?

Appalachia Service Project (ASP) is a Christian ministry, open to all people, that fosters human development by addressing the housing needs of Central Appalachia. Each year through their ministry about 15,000 volunteers repair homes for 400-500 low-income families in rural areas of Central Appalachia. Their goal is to make homes warmer, safer and drier for families in need, while offering transformational experiences for families, volunteers and staff alike.

The home repairs made can take place from the ground up to the roof, and everywhere in-between. Typical repairs include: repairing roofs, building room additions, providing wheelchair ramps, installing or repairing plumbing, updating unsafe wiring, securing foundations, digging drainage ditches, constructing porches and steps, installing insulation and siding, and weatherizing homes. They even provide first-time electricity and indoor plumbing for multiple families each year.

The majority of their volunteers are high school aged youth (14 years+) who perform most of the repairs themselves under the watchful eyes and guidance of adult leaders during their summer program. The remainder of their volunteers are mostly young adult and adult volunteers participating in their non-summer program. It is truly amazing what their willing hearts and hands can accomplish. Since 1969, more than 12,500 homes have been repaired with the assistance of over 240,000 volunteers.

Worldwide Missions

Guatemala Orphan Mission

Chardon United Methodist Church has been changing the future of Guatemalan children with mission trips to support the needs of orphans.  We have been working through Orphan Resources International, who believe that every child is special and that God has a plan for each of their lives.  Their mission and goal is to aid the children of this world, who through no fault of their own, have found themselves orphaned and alone.  We wish to show them that God, and many other people like you, do indeed love them.  Our next scheduled mission trip will be January 16, 2021-January 23, 2021.   For more information about Orphan Resources International, please visit www.orphanresources.org.

Masindi Rock Foundation School

The mission of Rock Foundation School is to graduate students who have developed:

  • A trust in God and spirit-led willingness to serve.
  • The intellectual skills necessary to achieve his or her optimum potential and confidence in his/her efficacy to make a positive difference in society.
  • An understanding of and respect for the diversity of others.
  • A commitment to community service and social awareness.
  • A positive self-image and self-confidence to know that success is possible with time, resources, and hard work.
  • The ability to be responsible and accountable for themselves and their actions.
  • The whole person– mentally, physically, socially, emotionally, and morally– to live in and contribute to society successfully.

Read more about Masindi Education and Rock Foundation School at www.masindieducation.org.